KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) today signalled no immediate need for a broad stimulus package amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, favouring a holistic and targeted approach as economic conditions remain resilient.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- The ringgit is expected to remain positive in 2026, driven by strong domestic fundamentals and ongoing reform measures, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Governor Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- The overall credit quality of business borrowings improved in the second half (2H) of 2025 with no notable divergence in trends across segments and sectors as shares of impaired loans and loans with increased credit risk for overall businesses improved to 2.8 per cent and 10.7 per cent, respectively.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's banking system total capital ratio remained strong at 18.1 per cent of total risk-weighted assets in December 2025, compared with 18.2 per cent in June 2025, with excess capital buffers amounting to RM139.3 billion from RM138.9 billion previously, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- Headline inflation is expected to remain moderate, averaging between 1.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent in 2026 despite greater global commodity price volatility amid the West Asia conflict, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- While the domestic economy was on solid footing in 2025, global developments posed greater downside risks to Malaysia’s growth outlook, prompting Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to make the pre-emptive decision to reduce the overnight policy rate (OPR) by 25 basis points to 2.75 per cent in July last year.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- Profitability of Malaysia’s insurance and takaful sector declined slightly to RM4.6 billion in the second half of 2025 (2H 2025) from RM4.8 billion in the first half of 2025 (1H 2025), despite improved equity investment performance, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s strong economic fundamentals and ongoing domestic structural reforms are expected to provide support to domestic market sentiment amid the highly uncertain global environment.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s banking system is expected to remain resilient even under severe macroeconomic stress scenarios, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- Household borrowings remained sound at end-2025, supported by strong debt-servicing capacity and a healthy labour market, with the loan impairment ratio stable at 1.0 per cent, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is in a position of strength as it faces oil price shocks following the West Asia conflict, supported by robust domestic demand, moderate inflation, a sound financial sector and a resilient external position.
By Harizah Hanim Mohamed and Siti Noor Afera Abu
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) estimates Malaysia’s economy to grow between four per cent and five per cent this year compared with 5.2 per cent registered in 2025, with the country’s domestic resilience and diversified export structure continuing to provide buffer to navigate the current external headwinds mainly from conflict in West Asia.
